History of the Bass Guitar

A bass guitar is similar to a six-string guitar in many ways, with the biggest difference being it has only four strings in most cases. These strings (E, A, D, G) are an octave lower than the corresponding strings on a guitar. It is played with either a pick or the fingers, usually has frets on the neck (though there are fretless models) and has been a part of rock, pop and jazz for over 50 years.

History

Although the roots of the bass guitar date back to the 1930s, it wasn't until well into the rock 'n' roll era that the bass became commonplace. Early rockers, including Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly used a traditional stand up bass (also known as a double bass or bull fiddle in the south) in their bands to provide the bottom end. The first popular electric bass guitar, the Fender Precision Bass, was produced by Fender in the 1950s and bears a striking resemblance to its cousin, the Fender Stratocaster.

Significance

The bass player holds down the bottom in a band. By the time The Beatles hit big, the bass guitar was firmly integrated into every rock and pop act. The bass helps drive the song along both musically and rhythmically, and it is often what makes the wall reverberate when played at a loud volume (which is the origin of the phrase "the bass to shake the place").

Function

The bass guitar, along with the drums, provides a band with its rhythm section. Early bass players were buried in the mix of records, but since the late 1960s, music has progressed, resulting in a number of notable virtuoso bass players, including Paul McCartney (The Beatles), Jack Bruce (Cream), John Entwistle (The Who), Geddy Lee (Rush) and Cliff Burton (Metallica), among others.

Types

The majority of bass guitars have four strings (E, A, D, G), but other common types include five-string models (B, E, A, D, G), eight-string models (E, E, A, A, D, D, G, G) and even twelve-string models (E, E, E, A, A, A, D, D, D, G, G, G). Most major guitar makers also manufacture bass guitars, including Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacher, Hamer, Ibanez and Steinberger.

Features

A bass guitar has virtually every feature that a six-string guitar does: body, neck, frets, tuning pegs and pickups. Bass strings are heavier than the strings on a guitar, which also makes the tuning pegs larger than a guitar's. Bass players play through bass amplifiers, which have speakers that can handle the punishment that the low-end output of the bass produces.

Resources

• Bass Player Magazine
• Best Bass Players of All Time